Cabanas returns to football

Paraguay international Salvador Cabanas has made his competitive return to football after recovering from being shot in the head 27 months ago.

Cabanas, 31, received a near-fatal gunshot wound to the head during a disagreement in a Mexico City bar on January 25, 2010 and still has the bullet lodged in his brain.

However, after a long period of recovered he played for Paraguayan third division 12 de Octubre, the club where he began his career in 1997, on the opening day of the Primera B third-tier championship on Saturday.

He started the game against Martin Ledesma, a 2-0 win, and played for 40 minutes before being substituted.

"Nobody survives what happened to me," he said. "That's why I always appreciate all the people who prayed for me and also the president of Doce [Club 12 de Octubre] who's let me be with them. Having faith was fundamental for me. That's why I'm here right now."

Cabanas began his career at the Itaugua-based side in 1997, moving to Audax Italiano of Chile and then Mexican club Jaguares de Chiapas before joining Club America in 2006, where he scored 66 goals in 115 league games for the Estadio Azteca side.

He was shot during his stint at the Mexican club and missed Paraguay's 2010 World Cup campaign. He had scored ten goals in 44 appearances for the national side.